Garbage truck dumps burning trash on Aspen Drive in Vernon Hills

Crews from Countryside Fire Protection District worked to extinguish a fire that was discovered in an Advanced Disposal garbage truck at 10 a.m. Oct. 23 along Aspen Drive in Vernon Hills.

Crews from Countryside Fire Protection District worked to extinguish a fire that was discovered in an Advanced Disposal garbage truck at 10 a.m. Oct. 23 along Aspen Drive in Vernon Hills. (Countryside Fire Protection District)

A portion of Aspen Drive in Vernon Hills was closed Tuesday morning after a fire was discovered in the cargo hold of a garbage truck, according to the Countryside Fire Protection District.

The driver of an Advanced Disposal garbage truck was on a route picking up recyclables when he noticed smoke coming from the backend shortly before 10 a.m. while driving southbound on Aspen Drive near Townline Road, according to Battalion Chief Jim Weber.

“He tried to compact the load to put the fire out, but that didn’t work so he called 911,” Weber said. “He asked to dump the contents onto the road to prevent damage to his truck. The wind direction was going away from the schools so we allowed him to dump it on the road.”

The incident took place between Hawthorn Middle School North and the neighboring Townline Elementary School.

Equipment from the Vernon Hills public works department was brought on scene to scatter the pile while firefighters added water and foam, Weber said.

No cause for the fire could be determined, but Weber said similar incidents are usually caused by discarded cigarettes.

“It was all recycled materials; we didn’t see any signs of flammable liquids or anything like that,” Weber said. “Whether it was a cigarette or whatever else, the fire had been smoldering back there for a while before it became noticeable.”

Countryside withdrew from the scene at about 11 a.m. and the roadway was reopened at about 11:30 a.m. after Advanced Disposal safely removed the debris from the roadway, Weber said.

Countryside Fire Protection District

Crews from Countryside Fire Protection District worked to extinguish a fire that was discovered in a garbage truck Oct. 23.

Crews from Countryside Fire Protection District worked to extinguish a fire that was discovered in a garbage truck Oct. 23. (Countryside Fire Protection District)